Social Sciences
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Item The impact of authentic materials on enhancing Cross Cultural Skills of German Tourism learners(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Cooray, B.M.S.The language proficiency in multiple foreign languages, is a required prerequisite, for successful communication in the tourism industry. Tourism industry which has become one of the main foreign income sources in Sri Lanka, is recruiting graduates with high foreign language proficiency skills, for a productive development of intercultural competence in the area of tourism and hospitality management. Therefore teaching Foreign Languages for tourism learners, can be regarded as a new academic discipline, which aims to bridge the gap between foreign language teaching with specific language learning skills required for current and future professionals in the field of tourism. Foreign language sessions for tourism learners are based on developing specific language skills required for tourism, while fostering cross cultural awareness. This study was designed to investigate how effective is the use of authentic materials, in enhancing the cross cultural skills of tourism learners. Authentic materials can be defined as “language materials that were originally designed to be used by first language speakers and were not intended for use by language learners (Nunan & Miller, 1995). Authentic materials such as Flyers, brochures, menu cards, hotel catalogs, magazines, train tickets and invitation cards are not being designed for language teaching purposes, but to fulfil the daily social requirements of the native speakers of the target language country. Therefore they contain authentic up to date real life situation based information, which provide the learners, the first-hand experience of travelers, visiting the target language country. This research is based on class room observations and data collected by semi structured interviews and distributed questionnaires among tourism learners. According to the findings of the research, it was evident, that the use of authentic materials, including audio visual and printed materials for German tourism teaching sessions, allow the learners to make contact with the real-life language experiences of the target culture and is also a great motivational factor for the learners to develop cross cultural sensitivity to overcome cultural barriers when working with customers, employees and suppliers from diverse cultural backgroundsItem The Impact of Chinese Relations on Sri Lanka's Economy.(1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Amarakoon, A.R.W.M.M.P.B.Sri Lanka, the China’s Jewel in the Heart of the Indian Ocean has forged closer relations with China during the past few years in its economic, military, and diplomatic relations. Although ancient Sri Lankan and Chinese relations were based on religious and cultural links, replicating the relations between large and lower middle economies, recently, Sri Lanka warmly welcomed the Chinese investments, trade pacts, financial assistance and Foreign Direct Investments to several economic sectors. The two countries take economic development as a priority of their national strategy, while looking for effective links which could maintain their core national interests. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has a great potential especially after the upcoming signing of the Free Trade Area Agreement with China’s idea of creating the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The purpose of the study is to investigate the impacts of economic relationship with China on Sri Lanka’s economy while addressing the opportunities and challenges especially in the spheres of trade and investments. Accordingly, the nature of economic relations and the ability of addressing the current economic challenges faced by Sri Lanka through the extent of the positive and negative impacts of these economic relations are subjected to further analysis. The content analysis method is used to achieve the research objectives through the use of secondary data based on the review of existing literature and analyzing them in an empirical and theoretical perspective. The impacts of Chinese relations to Sri Lanka’s economy will be systematically analyzed in both positive and negative perspectives through revenues and profits gained from exports, imports and tourism industry and also the rates of wages and labour utilization of the Chinese investment projects. The implementation of Chinese soft power strategy unveiled that these investments and financial assistance lead to future debts and higher budget deficits along with the less export revenue and high unemployment rates in local labour market. In contrast, the development of infrastructure increasing revenues in tourism industry is exemplified. Hence, this study insists the significance of having an insight on strengths, weaknesses and the influences for the current decision making process of the country in relation to the economy.